Office for People with Developmental Disabilities Basketball Bounce benefits local charities

MADISON >> The fifth annual Basketball Bounce took place at Madison Central School, reinforcing healthy living, education and community involvement.

The Basketball Bounce started as part of the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities Healthy Choices initiative in 2009, which was created to promote good health and exercise, connect with local students, and give back to the community as a whole. The competition is the culmination of three months of fundraisers, the OPWDD's walkathon, bake sales and can and bottle drives all go into this event which has given more than $20,000 since it started to local charities, including coaches for cancer and the Boeheim Foundation, which accepted $4,590 from OPWDD this year.

"It's a great opportunity for school kids to get involved with people with disabilities," said State Operations Office Director Mark Lankes.

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He said that while the event started out as a way to promote health and fitness, it has evolved into an opportunity for people with disabilities to give back to their communities and those less fortunate.

All of the players from the teams, Big East and Big West are from the Central New York area. Members from the East team, from areas like Herkimer, Utica and Rome, were pitted against basketball players with disabilities from areas like Syracuse and Oswego. Lankes explained that Madison is the middle ground, the line in the sand and it's a perfect location to bring the two teams together.

"Today is a day to help recognize people with special needs," said Varsity Basketball player and Madison senior Ashley Relf. "We're here to welcome them to our school, cheer them on, and have a good time."

"It's important for kids here at Madison and everywhere to learn to treat everyone equally," Relf said. "This gives us an opportunity to do that."

Relf and teammate Shana Beidermann volunteered to help with event, catching balls and helping the teams practice. During the game, the girls watched and cheered each team on. Beidermann said that it didn't matter which team won, because that wasn't the point of the game.

"Winning is not important," Beidermann said. "As long as they have fun, that's all that matters."

After leading most of the game, team West was eventually caught up to by the reigning champions in the East. At the final buzzer, East scored one final three pointer that ended the game with a tie at 31-31.

The game was concluded as the team shook hands and took photos with Juli Boeheim, Syracuse Coach Jim Boeheim's wife. Boeheim was presented with a check from the OPWDD for the Jim and Juli Boeheim foundation which works towards enhancing education and eliminating cancer through research and awareness.

Boeheim said that all of the money raised for the foundation stays local, and will support kids here in Central New York.